The best gaming microphones for strategizing, streaming, and singing.

Whether you’re streaming on Twitch or just trying to be heard in a (virtual) warzone, nothing quite beats a dedicated, standalone microphone. Don’t get me wrong — the best gaming headsets have some pretty impressive built-in mics these days, but they’re built to multi-task, not to deliver professional-grade, crystal-clear clarity (or to pick up anything other than one person’s speaking voice). 

A standalone mic will make your voice sound better and clearer to your teammates and viewers, and can be used for other things as well — music recording, for example, or podcasting. Many of the best gaming microphones are already pretty affordable — under $100/£100 — and versatile, making them an even better deal. If you’ve already upgraded to one of the best gaming keyboards and one of the best gaming mice, it’s definitely time to pick up a standalone gaming mic.

Best Gaming Microphones at a glance

1. Best Gaming Microphone Overall: HyperX Quadcast
2. Best Streaming Microphone: Blue Yeti USB
3. Best Gaming Microphone for High-End Streaming: Elgato Wave:3
4. Best Budget Gaming Microphone: Razer Seiren Mini
5. Best Gaming Microphone for Recording Music: Beyerdynamic FOX
6. Best Gaming Microphone for Podcasting: Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
7. Best High-End Gaming Microphone: Blue Yeti X
8. Best Stylish Mic for Streaming: NZXT Capsule Mic
9. Best Microphone for Pre-Recording: MSI Immerse GV6

Quick Shopping Tips

Which polar pattern?

A microphone’s polar pattern describes the area around it where it picks up noise. Some gaming mics offer numerous polar patterns, while others may only have one.

Cardioid: This is the most common polar pattern and is best suited for recording one person’s vocals. Cardioid mics create a narrow cone around one side, so the mic is only listening to a selective area and blocking out the rest. Variations — such as supercardioid or the more extreme hypercardioid — narrow the polar pattern down even more, picking up audio from an even narrower area.

Bidirectional: As the name implies, these mics create two fields of polarity, one on each side of the mic. This can be better for recording two voices simultaneously — but, it’s always better to use separate mics to record multiple voices, if possible.

Omnidirectional: These are the opposite of cardioid mics — they listen in all directions, and are best for capturing room noise and ambient sounds such as chatter or reverb from a loud instrument. These are less helpful for gaming and streaming, but in a pinch you can use an omnidirectional mic to record multiple voices in close proximity.

USB gaming mic or studio mic?

As great as USB-based gaming mics are, they are but one of two options for the streamer, competitive gamer, or home recording enthusiast who happens to play a some Fortnite on the side. The other is XLR-based studio mics, which require an audio interface. When used properly, studio mics offer higher quality and more versatile recordings.

USB gaming mics: These interface with your PC via a USB port and feature an integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that changes the analog mic signal to digital data. They’re very easy to set up, usually don’t require specific drivers, and often have built-in noise suppression.

Studio mics: A studio mic interfaces via XLR, meaning you’ll need some form of sound card with XLR input jacks connected to your PC. Studio mics vary from affordable $100 models to prestigious high-end ones worth tens of thousands that are only attainable in recording studios. Since they don’t have an ADC or digital-to-analog converter (DAC), they don’t have the built-in noise suppression found in gaming mics.

Inline monitoring

Hearing the direct input signal while recording can be very handy. Many gaming mics offer this option via a headphone jack on the mic, so when you plug in, you’ll hear the raw audio lag-free (minus any compression or effects applied to the track).

Frequency response range

The wider, the better. This is an important point on the spec sheet that tells you the lowest and highest pitched sounds the mic membrane is capable of picking up. The baseline range is 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz because those extremes are also the limits of human hearing. 

Some mics go beyond this. While this may seem unnecessary since you can’t hear the extra detail they pick up, you can ‘feel’ subharmonics within the low-end frequencies. The same goes for the other end of the frequency response range: You can’t hear 22,000 Hz unless you’re a Pomeranian, but you can feel the extra harmonic detail it adds to the high-end tones that your ear can pick up.

1. HyperX Quadcast

Best Gaming Microphone

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 48 KHz
• Bit rate: 16-bit
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Electret
• Polar Patterns: Cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, stereo
• Cable length: 9.8 feet (3m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• Easy controls
• Four polar patterns
• Great clarity
• Shockmount and adapter for boom stands

REASONS TO AVOID

• USB interface limits audio to 48 KHz / 16-bit
• May lead to a mega-expensive headphone purchase

HyperX’s Quadcast provided the best gaming performance out of any USB microphone we’ve tested. With impressive vocal warmth and clarity, the HyperX Quadcast is the best gaming microphone for most players. 

It doesn’t just have excellent sound quality — the Quadcast also has a well-pronounced gaming aesthetic. Behind the cradle lives a strikingly dramatic red light that illuminates when the mic is on. You can mute yourself instantly by tapping the top of the microphone, at which point the light will handily turn off to indicate this. 

HyperX has equipped the QuadCast with a very sturdy shock mount. That means you can relax and get your game face on without worrying about knocking the stand over and deafening your Discord friends.

The name Quadcast refers, oddly enough, to a unique, three-diaphragm design that allows for four polar patterns, including an unconventional stereo arrangement. In reality, this is best used outside of gaming and for a wide sound source or for two different sources, (as you might find in a home or live recording environment). But the Quadcast still sounds nice and warm, with a welcome touch of roominess, when used in this manner. 

2. Blue Yeti USB

Best Gaming Microphone for Streaming

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 44 KHz
• Bit rate: 16-bit
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Back electret
• Polar patterns: Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo
• Cable length: 3.3 feet (1m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• Stable stand
• Crystal clear vocals
• Easy control layout

REASONS TO AVOID

• Outmatched for sound quality by rivals
• No hi-res recording options
• Crunchy audio characteristics

The venerable Blue Yeti was there at the birth of the streaming boom, and it’s still a ubiquitous desktop feature on Twitch. And with good reason. It’s just about the easiest mic to use on the market and really excels when picking up a single vocal signal at a time.

Logitech’s Blue Yeti is built to a very high standard and will stay where you angle it on its weighty stand. The design of that stand, along with the understated, retro aesthetic of the mic capsule itself, makes this the most stylish USB microphone, and that’s important when you’re streaming yourself for an audience of judging eyes. If you really love RGB and want to sync all your peripherals up to the beat of the same light show, though, consider Razer’s Seiren series instead.

The controls couldn’t be easier to use while you’re streaming. A single volume control and a mute button on the front of the mic are all you get, and for the intended purpose that’s all you really need. You’re never going to accidentally hit the wrong thing mid-stream.

The Blue Yeti’s four polar patterns also give it great versatility, so if you venture out into music recording or podcasting, you’re not limited by a single cardioid pickup pattern.

3. Elgato Wave:3

Best Gaming Microphone for High-End Streaming

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 96 KHz
• Bit rate: 24-bit
• Frequency response: 70 Hz-20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Electret
• Polar Patterns: Cardioid
• Cable length: 8.2 feet (2.5m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• Anti-distortion tech
• Small and portable
• Built-in pop shield

REASONS TO AVOID

• Muted low end
• Mute is easy to touch accidentally
• Cardioid only

If you’re looking for a mainstream gaming mic that’s a bit more advanced in terms of features than the Blue Yeti USB listed above, then the Elgato Wave:3 is for you. This mic comes with Elgato’s Clipguard feature, which successfully limited audio volume during testing. Fit for Twitch streaming, YouTube compression and high-res audio recording, the Wave:3’s small build also makes it easily portable.

This mic is similarly priced to the Blue Yeti X that’s also on this list; however, Elgato’s streaming mic only has one polar pattern type, making it less versatile than the Blue Yeti X. For a mic that can handle a broader range of situations, the Yeti X is still preferable. We also could use more bass from the Wave:3.

But with its vast software and hardware feature set, like a handy pop shield, the Wave:3 is a highly capable mic for those focused on streaming. 

4. Razer Seiren Mini

Best Budget Gaming Microphone

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 48 kHz
• Bit rate: 16-bit
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Electret
• Polar patterns: Supercardioid
• Cable length: 3.3 feet (1m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• Sound quality rivals Snowball Ice
• Comes in various colors, including pink

REASONS TO AVOID

• Very feature-light
• Only one polar pattern

Not everyone needs multiple cardioid patterns and a pile of features. If you’re willing to work with the best budget gaming microphone, the Razer Seiren Mini delivers, and in a variety of colors that’ll add some fun to your setup. 

The Seiren Mini is currently just $50, and it packs sound quality that rivals its close competitor, the Blue Snowball iCE. But Razer’s best budget gaming mic sounds more dry and flat,  which should be pleasing to those who prefer less artificial sounding output. You can’t get better sound quality at this price.

You will, however, be stuck with a supercardioid polar pattern only, while others on this list offer multiple options. Also, features here are almost non-existent. There isn’t even a mute button or headphone jack (for a budget option with mute, consider the HyperX SoloCast). 

Still, the Seiren Mini is cute, portable and offers simple, quality audio.

5. Beyerdynamic FOX

Best Gaming Microphone for Recording Music

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 96 KHz
• Bit rate: 24-bit
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Back electret
• Polar patterns: Cardioid
• Cable length: 3.3 feet (1m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• 96 KHz/24-bit quality
• Great pop shield design
• Studio mic capability

REASONS TO AVOID

• Headphone preamp breaks up easily
• Only cardioid polar pattern available
• Higher quality bit/sample rate is irrelevant for streaming platforms

Whether you like to croon some tunes during or after your Twitch stream, this music-centric microphone is a great choice. Beyerdynamic is a respected name in pro audio, and the company’s expertise in the studio carries over beautifully in this compact, no-fuss USB mic.

Unlike the vast majority of its USB interface peers, the FOX offers hi-res 96 KHz/24-bit recording quality, which is an impressive feat for a mic you can simply plug in via USB and hit record on. You might not make use of that extra quality on platforms that compress audio and video, like YouTube or Twitch, but if you’re into podcasting or music production, you’ll be glad for the option to go beyond CD-quality 44 KHz/16-bit.

On the mic itself are controls for mix and volume and a headphone minijack input for inline monitoring. The preamp that outputs this monitoring signal runs a little hot in our experience, distorting well before the mic itself does; however, it’s still a useful feature when the gain’s rolled off.

There’s also a mute button at the top, and a high-low gain toggle (essentially a pad) at the rear of the mic. Beyerdynamic throws in a sturdy metallic pop shield that clips on without the need to unscrew anything, and you can angle the mic on its stand. 

The Beyerdynamic FOX is loaded with features, but ultimately it’s the sheer recording quality and usability that wins out and makes the FOX our pick for home studios.

6. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+

Best Gaming Microphone for Podcasts

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 44 KHz
• Bit rate: 16-bit
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Fixed-charge plate, permanently polarized
• Polar Patterns: Cardioid
• Cable length: 10.2 feet (3.1m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• Close to the best USB mic we’ve heard
• Handy lag-free monitoring
• Brings in pleasant room sound at distance

REASONS TO AVOID

• Tripod stand is a balancing act
• Not quite up to the Beyerdynamic FOX’s soud quality-
• Picks up keyboard clicks

Like Beyerdynamic, Audio-Technica is a hugely respected name in the pro audio industry. It brings decades of expertise to the table with the AT2020USB+. This is a medium-diaphragm condenser with just a cardioid polar pattern available, which makes it somewhat specialized to lone vocal recording, but luckily it’s brilliant at that very thing.

In a straight shootout with the Beyerdynamic FOX,  the AT2020UBS+ comes incredibly close to matching the FOX’s warmth and detail but falls slightly short. Yet, the particular characteristics of the Audio-Technica — a breathiness and really pleasant high end — make it perfect for spoken vocals.

We recommend a couple of additional purchases for this mic, though: a pop shield and a boom arm. We’re surprised not to see the former included, but they’re inexpensive to pick up on their own. As for that boom arm, the tripod design felt a little wobbly during our testing, so we preferred mounting it up above us on a nice sturdy boom before hitting the record button. That way, we were able to relax and not spend our session worrying about knocking into the desk and picking up bumps and scratches on the waveform.

7. Blue Yeti X

Best High-End Gaming Microphone

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 48 KHz
• Bit rate: 24-bit
• Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Condenser Type: Electret
• Polar Patterns: Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo
• Cable length: 6.6 feet (2m)
• Connectivity: USB Type-A

REASONS TO BUY

• Fundamentally great sound
• Useful multi-function dial
• Four polar patterns give it versatility

REASONS TO AVOID

• Not much new for existing Yeti owners
• Dials feel a little loose and plastic
• Attracts smudges

While the Blue Yeti above is the best gaming microphone for streamers, the Yeti X kicks things up a notch in terms of performance, features and price. Those who already own a Yeti don’t have a pressing need to upgrade; however, if you’re in the market for a new desktop microphone and have the budget, the Yeti X is a versatile option with fantastic audio performance. Although it somewhat comes at a premium, the Yeti X is still a lot cheaper than most multi-polar pattern studio mics. 

A greater number of condenser capsules brings smoother sound with better sensitivity compared to the standard Yeti. Beyond the specs, we also noticed an improvement in recording quality when compared to the Yeti. Our testing found that the Yeti X could articulate a wider dynamic range that sounded a bit fuller. 

Another nifty upgrade the Yeti X provides is a dial that swaps between cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional and stereo polar patterns. The joy here is this dial is just plain easy to turn and much more so than the Yeti. However, we wished the Yeti X’s dials felt more premium for this price.

If you’re willing to spend a little extra, there’s also the Blue Yeti X World of Warcraft Edition. Currently going for $50 extra, It brings a new look, plus voice modulation to make you sound like characters from the Warcraft games, including Shadowlands. 

8. NZXT Capsule Mic

Best Stylish Mic for Streaming

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 96 Khz
• Bit rate: 24-bit
• Frequency response: 100 – 20,000Hz
• Condenser Type: –
• Polar Patterns: Cardrioid
• Connectivity: USB-C
• Cable length: –
• Connectivity: –

REASONS TO BUY

• Great Audio Quality
• Minimalist Style
• Plug and Play

REASONS TO AVOID

• One pattern
• Can’t tweak gain in software

Some of us have faces for radio and don’t need to worry about our mics showing up on screen. But some of us are streamers. And for those streamers, style matters just as much as quality. Lucky for them that NZXT’s Capsule Mic has a great minimal cylindrical style that also pushes out high quality audio and has just the right amount of RGB.

This is NZXT’s first mic in a while, and the company’s coming in swinging here. Yeah, there’s only one pickup pattern, but cardioid is all a lot of people will need. And NZXT’s cardioid knocks it out of the park. Audio is crisp, and the microphone didn’t pick up background noise like trains when our reviewer used it to stream. It also works well in high-ceiling rooms.

The software can be a little finicky, and you can’t tweak your gain in it, but the knob is notched to help with that.

Overall, this mic provides a great plug-and-play experience for streamers without costing an arm and a leg.

9. MSI Immerse GV60

Best Microphone for Pre-Recording

SPECIFICATIONS

• Sample rate: 96 Khz
• Bit rate: 24-bit
• Frequency response: 20 – 20,000Hz
• Condenser Type: –
• Polar Patterns: Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, Bidirectional
• Connectivity:: USB-C to USB-A
• Cable length: –
• Connectivity: –

REASONS TO BUY

• Four Polar Patterns
• Clear Vocal Reproduction
• Easy setup

REASONS TO AVOID

• No boom arm adapter 

The Immerse GV60 is MSI’s first ever stand-alone desktop microphone, and while it makes a few missteps concerning its target audience, its 96 kHz sample rate and wide bevy of polar patterns makes it perfect for pre-recorded content.

It’s a bit strange to see such a gaming-centric company miss the mark when it comes to livestreamers, who will be least served by this microphone. That’s because most streaming platforms aren’t positioned to make great use of the high sample rate here, nor are streamers likely to get much use out of the non-Cardioid polar patterns. The microphone still works fine when ignoring these features, although it might not be worth the price if you intend to do that.

But if you record music or podcasts or even video, this is a great starter mic. All the options here will really help you customize your sound, plus it comes with a built-in pop filter. Just know that you might have to buy a separate adapter if you plan to mount the GV60 in a boom arm.